Town Players mark Powerhouse milestone with something to laugh at

‘The Fox on the Fairway’ opens Friday, Feb. 22, runs through March 9

“The Fox on the Fairway’s” cast took a break recently for a shot with their director. Seated are Town Players of New Canaan members Deborah Burke, left, Kevin McDonough, Sarah Smegal and director Tim Cronin. Standing are Morgan Flagg, Marcia Vinci and Tom Petrone. (Tom Hughey photo)

The show must go on. No matter where that show must go on.

For the first 37 years of its existence — from December 1946 until March 1983 — the Town Players of New Canaan were itinerant players, performing at Center School (now the Center School parking lot and site of the New Canaan Farmer’s Market), the Congregational Church lecture room (now Smith Hall, without a stage), at Saxe Junior High School (both in what is now Schoolhouse Apartments and its current location), and primarily at South School’s 387 raked-seat auditorium (now a flat floor “cafetorium”).

Everything changed on March 18, 1983, when the theatrical troupe opened with the gala “Powerhouse Premier.” After a mammoth two-year restoration project, TPNC had just moved into their permanent home, the 115-seat Powerhouse Theatre, named for what had been the Power Plant, erected by Thomas Hall in 1896 east and north of Waveny House.

According to the New Canaan Historical Society, “…here were the electric generators to light the houses and barns, the boilers that supplied steam for heating, and a pump to boost the water pressure … except on special occasions, Frank Pearson, the engineer, would momentarily dim the lights at 9 p.m., warning everyone that bedtime was half an hour away, and at 9:30 the power went off.”

Celebrating 30 years in Waveny Park, the Town Players will bring up the lights tomorrow night, Feb. 22, on their 147th subscription show at the Powerhouse, with Ken Ludwig’s wintertime blues chaser “The Fox on the Fairway,” an antic and light hearted comedy, directed by Tim Cronin.

The play is about a bet by the head of one country club against the head of another country club on the yearly tournament they have with each other. Things go awry and havoc breaks out when the night before the tournament opens, the best golfer switches club allegiance from Quail Valley to Crouching Squirrel.

In his foreword to “The Fox on the Fairway,” Ludwig concludes, “Finally, I’ve written this play not only as an homage to the earlier tradition [of English farces such as “Charley’s Aunt”], but also as a reminder of the values that the tradition embodies, things like innocence, humor, good sportsmanship and honor. My hope is that it is still possible to come together in a darkened theater and embrace these values with a sense of joy. If so, there may be hope for us yet.”

Sheri Dean, who co-directed the “Powerhouse Premier” with John Rogers 30 years ago, is “The Fox on the Fairway’s” producer.

“I like to produce,” Dean said. “It’s the challenge and joy of taking a bare stage and orchestrating all the pieces that pull together an environment that reflects a particular slice of the world which the playwright has created. With Ken Ludwig, it’s always fun and a great way to spend the winter.”

Everyone who attends the opening night performance is invited to stay for a party in the lobby.

Performance dates are Friday and Saturday, February 22, 23, and March 1, 2, 8 and 9, at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 on Feb. 24 and March 3.